Culture is talking about sex. The music and movie industry is talking about sex -- all.the.time. Is the church? Are we communicating enough about what healthy sex looks like in marriage? Real-life sex, not just how it is portrayed on the silver screen.
Do men have a greater sex drive than women? What is mutual sex? How is pornography affecting the marriage bed? How do we have honest conversations with our spouse about this topic? What is the deal with the 50 Shades craze? Krista covers all of this and more with guest Dorothy Greco.
Dorothy Littell Greco is a photographer, writer, and author. She writes on how following Jesus changes everything in places such as Christianity Today and Relevant Magazine. Her first book, Making Marriage Beautiful, was released at the beginning of 2017.
Listen in on our conversation today about how to improve sex in marriage in order to breathe new life into our primary relationship.
Jessie Minassian just made a big move and finds herself nestled in the middle of a national forest, hours from anything more than a country store. Her relocation to Hume Lake with her family was a big transition, but an answer to her prayer of "Lord send me". A woman willing to join God in what he is already doing, this is just one ways that Jessie has said "yes" in recent years to the open door in front of her.
Jessie's warmth shines through our conversation as she talks through parenting teenagers, writing Bible studies, and transitioning her own girls out of homeschooling. Her desire to walk through the doors God opens, whatever they might be, is evident in every aspect of her life. She is a woman who loves a good pen and Amazon Prime, and maybe, just maybe, sunbathes on her dining room table (you'll need to listen to the end to hear about that).
You won't want to miss this delight of a mom, friend and sister that joins us for this round of The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast.
Founder of the IF:Gathering, author, and Bible teacher, Jennie Allen inspires women to encounter God. She works hard at the work in front of her and a few years ago realized she might be working too hard, trying to prove to everyone that she was good enough, up to the task. Her journey to let go of expectations and allow God to do his job is chronicled in her new book Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard.
In our conversation with Jennie we talk through letting go of approval. We cover everything from God taking us to places where trust is required in order to increase our dependence on him, to how and why Jennie prayed "Give us this day our daily bread" this last year, to our call to disciple a few within our immediate reach. This interview will inspire you to trust more and strive less as Jennie reminds us of God's sovereign plans.
If you're a woman who is tempted to perform, who seeks approval from God, who is slightly exhausted from all of the striving, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Jennie challenges us to let go of control and walk in obedience no matter the cost because God's plans are good. His plans can be hard, but they're always good.
New York Times bestselling author and Proverbs 31 speaker, Karen Ehman, lives on alert. She waits to hear "heart drops", those hints that indicate a way to someone's heart, so she can best love those around her while managing the demands of her busy life. Karen is excellent at taking a broad topic like "loving well" and breaking it down to practical steps we all can follow.
In this interview we cover everything from how to schedule check-ins with friends to how to offer teenagers a soft landing place in your home. Karen's honesty about her own struggles with listening and loving without distraction normalizes the challenges to putting this life of other-centered living into practice. She reminds us how pausing in the middle of our normal busy to focus on someone else's needs and offers hope that small efforts can make big impact.
You won't want to miss Karen's wisdom in both this interview and her newest book. She is simultaneously encouraging and challenging as she reminds us of God's call to love those around us.
Valentine's Day....a day of love! Whether you are snuggling up with a honey, making dozens of cookies for class parties, or wondering why we have this holiday in the first place, we invite you to join us for our first annual Things We Love! episode.
This is about fun and practical. Please know that the things most dear to our hearts aren't actually things at all. But if you were to buy us some Valentine's gifts, these might be on our wish lists. And we think you should know about them too (also please know none of these are sponsored responses, they truly are our go-to items.)
So go ahead and listen in. We are delighted you have joined us for this Valentine's Day special. No matter what day of the year you are listening, we hope you feel loved.
We go into some interviews knowing the guest will offer The Open Door Sisterhood a wealth of wisdom. Author Patricia Raybon was one of those and so we jumped right into the big stuff. From race relations to divided families we wanted to make sure not a minute of this episode with one of our favorites was wasted. As you listen you will hear Patricia's tender nature and years of life and walking with Christ speak through her.
Patricia shares some about what it is to be "living while black" in today's climate, her relationship with her Muslim daughter, and the simple steps we can take to move toward people (like actually saying "hello" to our neighbors) in a time where divisions feel strong. Her approach is humble and wise. Truly a dear conversation with a woman who does not oversimplify issues and yet does not over-complicate her responses to them.
Patricia's signature honesty speaks to what it is to step into the uncomfortable in order to be more in step with God's purposes on earth. If ever there was an episode of The Open Door Sisterhood worth listening to, it's this one. We are sure you will walk away encouraged to walk through that next open door.
It's February, and many of the New Year's Goals we created are starting to fade into the distant past. Are you tired of setting goals and failing? In this episode we talk about how to set goals that will actually stick, what the keys are to successful goal setting, and how we can address the mind, body, AND spirit in the process.
This short episode will encourage you and give you practical tools for improving your life - one small step forward at a time.
Designer and now author, Erin Loechner, is up these days (or we should say nights) with a baby. A baby she went to retrieve from the hospital as soon as she received a phone call. That seems to be how Erin's life works. From starting a website to a show on HGTV.com, Erin and her husband follow adventure. Or adventure follows them.
From the midwest, to Hollywood, back to the midwest, Erin's journey has often been fast and furious. But her new book Chasing Slow is about just that, deciding to live life at a slower pace one intentional decision at a time. Her popular site DesignForMankind.com has reflected that life change. Starting as a holding place for design ideas, the site now peeks into Erin's family life and newfound pace.
Join us as we hear Erin's story and how she is embracing her total parts these days. We cover her whirlwind adoption story, how she found herself in Hollywood and why detours work for her. We know you will find a kindred spirit in this creative mama who jumps right into work and love. We found her to be simply delightful.
A Sister Interview with a Latin flair, in this episode Monica Rovira brings the world to the sisterhood, reminding us how God is working through women around the globe. A native Colombian living in her adopted country of Guatemala, adapting resources for a U.S. ministry to meet the needs of Latin American women, Monica truly is a world changer.
Monica leads MOPS International's efforts in Latin America, working to introduce moms with young children to God's love. Throughout our conversation it is evident that Monica has the beautiful combination of vision and hard work that allows her to partner with God as he does his work. We talk through cultural differences between developing and developed countries, how event planning is different in Latin American culture than in the U.S. and why she works to keep her support network happy. Monica reminds us that relationships are the foundation for support and that when we approach other cultures with a posture of listening and learning those relationships can flourish.
From how to keep vision fresh, to trusting God through every open door, you won't want to miss our conversation with this sister.The first Open Door Sisterhood Podcast episode recorded with someone who lives outside the United States, we're sure you will be inspired to reach outside your daily norm through relationships.
A bottoming out of life can lead us to ask questions. Like who am I? Really? Michele Cushatt's battle with cancer did just that. As a professional speaker who lost a good portion of her tongue to the disease, as a mom who was too sick to get off the couch for many months, for a woman who was used to convincing herself that she was capable to take on the next thing, she had to re-examine where her identity truly lay.
You will be challenged and inspired in this conversation with Michele as we talk through what a true identity in Christ looks like, how we often have to have loss to find it, and the difference between depression and grief. We talk through what it means to be a good friend, qualities to look for in safe friends and what makes one qualified to step into her calling. From self-doubt to loss, Michele gives us some tips on how to become unstuck and find purpose no matter our stage of life or circumstances. It has to do with our assets and the needs right around us.
You want want to miss this episode of coaching from the expert coach herself. Turn on the treadmill, get out the laundry, this is going to be one great hour!
Esther Emery and her family just moved...from a yurt to a cabin she and her husband built from scratch with trees from their property. She is a homesteader, working on the skills of homemaking and sharing her experiences and knowledge with her followers. It is an intentional, alternative lifestyle. And one she wasn't planning on. Until life got difficult a few years ago and things needed to change.
In this episode we talk with Esther about the heartache that caused some external changes (like going off of the internet for a year), which led to internal reflections and work (her own coming to faith and reconciliation with her husband). We talk through what it means to choose to love your spouse and choose to trust when that very trust has been broken, the benefit of stopping and slowing down as a family, and the determination to make the ordinary count. From homeschooling to canning Esther's life is filled with connection to God's creation.
At a time of year where we talk all about fresh starts, fashion may be a place you look to toss out the old and welcome the new. After all, sales at the mall are in full post-holiday swing. But what if fashion is more than buying that trending riding boot or Patagonia pullover? What if style is actually much deeper than that, and an expression of our spiritual nature?
In this interview, fashionista Meghan Cobble sheds some light on confidence, body type, what makes a person beautiful, and how to choose the right colors. Blending faith and fashion, a duo rarely seen together, you will walk away with a new perspective and more equipped in how to express yourself to the world.
Alisa Keeton has always been a fitness fanatic, but as her faith deepened so did her understanding of what physical wellness is about. In order to minister to people's whole selves ... body, mind and spirit... she founded Revelation Wellness, an approach that works on making people physically fit so they might serve God in the world. Alisa's passion is undeniable and you will be inspired as you hear her talk about the purpose behind caring for our bodies and making them strong in order to be healthy and how physical health can help us become healthy in other areas of our lives.
In our conversation we hear how Alisa unwinds with her husband and two children, how and why they've implemented an evening family hour, what being 'whole' means to her, and the difference between being skinny and being fit. Revelation Wellness offers workout options for every fitness level and body size. On-line or in person classes bring fun, fitness and faith to men and women around the globe. As you listen to Alisa, it will be evident that her desire to inspire and instruct has created a network of Fitness Teachers / Gospel Preachers.
Do you need to re-center on the heart of Christmas? In this short, 17-minute Hey Sister! special, Krista and her family read scripture to instrumental Christmas music. Play it while you drive, while you light the Advent candles, while you take a run, wrap the final gift, sit by the tree.
Sisters, let's share the reading of scripture together.
The professional young woman has a unique set of life circumstances. Kat Armstrong wants her to know the Gospel of Jesus fits right there in the midst of them. However many professional women in their 20s and 30s are deciding church doesn't have a place for them. Polished is an outreach Kat helped found to gather young professional women with the idea of introducing them to the Gospel and to a local church.
In this episode we'll hear about Kat's process as she co-founded Polished with her friend Stephanie Giddons, how it has grown from an initial chapter to multiple sites, what it takes to start a new chapter and why they work so hard to make it all happen.
Kat is a mom, a pastor's wife and a passionate ambassador for Jesus right where she is. A world changer for good we like to call it around here at the sisterhood. Won't you listen to this episode? We are certain you will fall smitten with Kat, just as we were when we interviewed her. She is articulate, passionate and resourceful. This is an episode for any woman who cares that the women around her know God's love.
Mom of four girls Kari Kampakis is working to help girls everywhere navigate social media. What does that mean? Well it means getting to the heart of matter: what is your identity grounded in and whose approval are you seeking? These are the questions central to Kari's new book Liked: Whose approval are you living for? for tween and teen girls.
In this episode, Kari joins Krista and Alex as they talk through how to parent while not being the helicopter mom, helping girls decide when they're ready to jump into the world of social media, and having boundaries with technology use when girls are with their friends in person. This is a mom-to-mom conversation that moms of both tween and teen boys and girls will find helpful.
In the third part of our three part Christmas series Less Stuff, More Memories co-hostesses Alex and Krista focus on incorporating the story of Jesus' birth into the season's routines and activities. From stories and activities your preschooler will participate in, to ways you can incorporate spiritual rituals with tweens and teens, Alex and Krista share how they incorporate the nativity into Advent.
At The Open Door Sisterhood we cherish the Christmas season because it refocuses many aspects of our life on this holiday that commemorates our Savior's birth. Won't you join us for this episode as we talk through some practical steps as we steward the sacred story and pass it on to our children?
From favorite children's books to sacred music there are some intentional moves we can make as we keep this holiday season sacred.
Oh Christmas traditions! They can be so much fun! And they can be so much stress! In the second part of our three part series, Less Stuff, More Memories, Krista and Alex talk through how to create meaningful, memorable traditions during the holiday season with your family, when to take a break from a tradition and involving kids in the planning and execution of things they enjoy. Because traditions are about memories, not stuff, and that's our hope for this Christmas.
Traditions are about creating a sense of belonging that speaks into each member of a group or family's identity. Not in an obvious way, but in a subtle, "this is who we are" way. Let's make traditions something sustainable, fun and flexible as we plan out our time together. Is it time to modify an old standby? Drop a tradition that was good for a season? Or even start a new one? Can we say "we'll try this" without feeling the lifetime commitment the tradition word can hold? Join us in this conversation as we explore what it means to have meaningful Christmas traditions.
Christmas is known for its magic. It is also known for spending, stuff and stress. Why not recenter on what makes Christmas fun and meaningful? That is why we are doing a series on Less Stuff, More Memories. In this series we break down topics of gifts, traditions and the spirit of Christmas so we can focus on making memories with those we love. This holiday season doesn’t have to be about the stuff, it can be about the memories and the people who share them and ultimately the person. Jesus who came as a baby because God so loved the world.
This first in our three-part series covers gift giving. How can we give less stuff? And when we do give tangible items, how can we make them meaningful? Krista and Alex talk through how to give gifts that show love, alternatives to tangible things, and making gifts memorable and unique to the recipient.
No matter your Christmas budget you'll find this episode to be full of different ideas for the kids and grown-ups on your shopping list.
Linda Lawrence Hunt is no stranger to loss. After two bouts of breast cancer, losing her brother and parents, and walking through the loss of her daughter, Krista, in a tragic accident in Bolivia, Linda has known the pain that most only fear. Linda herself went on a journey, desperate to discover how to find hope in the midst of such sorrow.
Springing out of the place rose The Krista Foundation for Global Citizenship, a tribute to her daughter's work and heart for people around the world, and her recent book, Pilgrimage Through Loss: Pathways to Strength and Renewal After the Death of a Child.
But even if you or a loved one haven't suffered a loss to that degree, this interview is for anyone who has experienced a loss of any kind - from a death, to a loss of health, to a loss of a relationship, or the loss of financial stability.
Linda offers hope, light, and strength to anyone traveling through the dark valley of loss.
We recorded this episode with Tricia Goyer while she had fourteen people in her home. So if it sounds like she is hiding in the bathroom, it's because she is. But this is the norm for this mom of ten who manages to feed people one soup pot at a time. Where her approach is an open-handed one trusting God to provide food, space and energy to love those under her roof.
You’ll hear how Tricia’s family grew from an unplanned pregnancy when she was 17-years old to the large family she has today, what adopting children with past trauma is like, and how homeschooling fits into it all. Her honesty about how she manages this whirlwind of a very full life reminds us that perfection is not the goal, obedience to God's prompting is.
Tricia is a true inspiration to us as she uses prayer and creative time management to write, parent and run a huge household.
Katelyn Beaty has recently taken a big step. Into what...she is still waiting to find out. As the youngest and first female managing editor of Christianity Today magazine, Katelyn was doing work she found meaningful and interesting. And yet she sensed God calling her to a new season. And so she quit. With no backup plan. No "next" in order. Because sometimes that open door is very much into the unknown.
It seems fitting that this major work change would all be happening after the release of her first book on women, vocation and the Church (see below). We talk to Katelyn about her process to sense God's change for her next, what it looks like for women to use their gifts freely and how this presidential election has offered her opportunities to speak in venues like CNN and The Washington Post.
We recorded this interview the morning after the presidential election. Though the nation had only known the results a few hours, we could tell the divisiveness from the election cycle wasn't going away anytime soon. Listen to our conversation with Katelyn about how women in the Church can move toward unity despite political differences.
An insightful and inspiring sister interview that reminds us all that God's spirit is one of dignity as we do our work in the world.
How-to guides about how to plan well for big holiday meals abound, but food preparation is not the only piece of the pie in making our Thanksgiving or Christmas meal tradition meaningful and fun. Along with meal planning, it is helpful to think through how to set the table for connection (even before we sit down to eat), how to proactively avoid family conflicts, and how to use mealtime to build relationships and deeper bonds.
Emily Ley is a woman who understands busy. As the founder of Emily Ley Paper, Inc. and The Simplified Planner, she runs a business while parenting three children under five. And she recently released her first book, Grace Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy. It helps that her business is centered around women simplifiying their lives, she knows the systems that work.
A jam packed episode of helpful tips, from Sunday night routines to saying "no" to good things, Emily tells us how she developed a planner with the busy woman in mind. She doesn't over-complicate the life management tool, she (no surprise) keeps it simple. And as a busy woman she practices what she preaches.
You are sure to find Emily charming, inspirational and full of ideas on how to live with a posture of grace over a posture of perfection.
Every group, big or small, has a culture. If you've visited another country, you've seen the way people act and how they feel about being a part of that nation. There are certain norms, behaviors, and rituals that shape the people in that environment.
Companies also have cultures. Think of Nike. It is the innovator of athletic wear, and its brand communicates what they value: sports, comfort, trends, pro sports, female athletes, and working out...hard.
Every company has a mission statement that drives their company culture. Likewise, we as families also have a culture. If we create a family mission statement, it helps drive that culture that we are creating in our homes.
Listen to this episode to help you create a family mission statement for your family.
Go to theopendoorsisterhood.com to download a template for your mission statement.